Home At Last

After being away for 7 weeks, we are finally home. Though we are seriously jet lagged and exhausted, we are content. My sweet hubby came home a week before I did, and he surprised me with a welcome gift waiting by the door to keep me warm….

It will take some time for us to transition back into normality. For the past 2 months, we have been surrounded by family and friends nearly every minute of every day. Now, we are back to our quiet, peaceful home, with just the three of us. It’s not a bad thing by any means. It’s just different. We miss our friends and family in Hong Kong, but we have so many memories to reflect upon….

I have to admit, I’m in semi-withdrawal. Oh, how I miss my family in Hong Kong! It was a luxury to be able to spend so much time with them, particularly in Hangzhou. Bridgette seems to be transitioning back into her routine here just fine. On her first night back, she woke up crying, saying that she misses Brianne. After that teary episode though, she has happily settled back into her familiar surroundings. On Tuesday, she will go back to school, and I will be left with the daunting task of unpacking 5 suitcases, which will call for a major reorganization of our closet spaces.

I want to give a big….no, HUGE, shout out to my sister Mimi, brother in law Brian, and adorable niece Brianne for hosting us at their lovely home for 7 weeks. To have house guests for nearly 2 months is a really long time, and they were super accommodating to us in every way. We were seriously spoiled, because for 7 weeks, we did not have to lift a finger to cook, clean, or do laundry at all. In fact, I didn’t even have to bathe Bridgette, or worry about making her breakfast in the morning, or breathe down her neck to clean up after herself. Lourdes, my sister’s wonderful live-in domestic helper/nanny really went out of her way to make us feel at home. We are deeply grateful and appreciative for everything that they have done to make our stay as delightful as it was. I already miss our “round table discussions” in the wee hours of the night, laughing, drinking, and inspiring one another. I also want to thank them for introducing God and Jesus to Bridgette in a more intimate and meaningful way. She enjoyed attending Sunday school with Brianne, reading bible stories at night, and leading our prayers from time to time.

This really was one of our very best trips to Hong Kong, as it was focused on the people. Our previous trips to Hong Kong always felt rushed, but this trip felt balanced. I think it had to do with a shift in mindset. There was no anxiety to eat/shop as much as we possibly could. It truly was about relaxing and soaking in every moment with our family and friends. And that felt really, really good.